Water purifier

ABSTRACT

A water purifier that includes: a main body including: a filter unit, a cooling unit, and a heating unit; a first water tube through which water purified by the filter unit or water cooled by the cooling unit passes; a second water tube through which water heated by the heating unit passes; a water discharge unit that protrudes from a portion of the main body; and a water discharge cock (i) that downwardly protrudes from the water discharge unit, (ii) that is coupled to the first water tube and the second water tube, and (iii) that is configured to discharge water purified by the filter unit or water cooled by the cooling unit in a first stream and discharge water heated by the heating unit in a second stream, wherein the first stream is separated from the second stream is disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a), this application claims the benefit ofearlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Application No.10-2016-0055457, filed on May 4, 2016, the content of which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application generally relates to technologies related to awater purifier.

BACKGROUND

A water purifier is a device that provides purified water and cold/hotwater to a user by purifying raw water such as tap water or undergroundwater through filters or membranes.

To supply cold water and hot water, a water purifier is provided with aheating device and a cooling device separately.

The water purifier is provided with a hot water tank therein. Water of anormal temperature about 17° C. may be supplied to the hot water tank,and the water of a normal temperature may be supplied to a user afterbeing heated to hot water (40° C. to 70° C.) or high temperature water(80° C. to 92° C.).

Conventionally, a sheath heater or a ceramic heater has been mainly usedto heat water within the hot water tank.

SUMMARY

In general, one innovative aspect of the subject matter described inthis specification can be implemented in a water purifier that includes:a main body including: a filter unit that is configured to purify water,a cooling unit that is configured to cool water, and a heating unit thatis configured to heat water; a first water tube through which waterpurified by the filter unit or water cooled by the cooling unit passes;a second water tube through which water heated by the heating unitpasses; a water discharge unit that protrudes from a portion of the mainbody; and a water discharge cock (i) that downwardly protrudes from thewater discharge unit, (ii) that is coupled to the first water tube andthe second water tube, and (iii) that is configured to discharge waterpurified by the filter unit or water cooled by the cooling unit in afirst stream and discharge water heated by the heating unit in a secondstream, wherein the first stream is separated from the second stream.

The foregoing and other implementations can each optionally include oneor more of the following features, alone or in combination. Inparticular, one implementation includes all the following features incombination. The water discharge cock includes: a cock body, a firstcock part that is located inside the cock body, that is coupled to thefirst water tube, and that is configured to discharge water purified bythe filter unit or water cooled by the cooling unit, a second cock partthat is located inside the cock body, that is coupled to the secondwater tube, and that is configured to discharge water heated by theheating unit, and a hollow part that is located inside the cock body andthat includes an opening, and wherein the first cock part, the secondcock part, and the hollow part are separated from each other. The firstcock part includes a first circular shaped body and the second cock partincludes a second circular shaped body, and wherein the first circularshaped body and the second circular shaped body are each coupled to aninternal surface of the cock body. The water purifier further includes:a cover that is coupled to a first end of the cock body and thatincludes: a coupling tube that is coupled to the first water tube, andan insertion hole into which the second water tube is inserted; and apacking that is located between the first cock part and the second cockpart and that includes: a first through hole that couples the couplingtube to the first cock part, and a second through hole that couples theinsertion hole to the second cock part, wherein the first through holeis separated from the second through hole. The packing further includes:an insertion protrusion that is configured to (i) be inserted into thehollow part and (ii) block a flow of water from the hollow part. Thewater discharge cock includes: a plurality of coupling units thatprotrude from a first surface of a second end of the cock body, each ofthe plurality of coupling units including a coupling hole through whicha fastener passes such that the cock body is coupled to an inner side ofthe water discharge unit. The water discharge cock further includes: ahose guide groove that is located on a surface of the coupling tube,that is adjacent to the insertion hole, and that is configured to guidethe second water tube into the insertion hole. The water discharge cockfurther includes: a hose holder that is coupled to a surface of the cockbody and that is configured to hold the second water tube. The hoseholder includes: a holder base that includes a first curved surface thatsupports a first portion of the second water tube; and a holder rib thatis coupled to the holder base and that includes a second curved surfacethat encloses a second portion of the second water tube. The second cockpart is closer to the filter unit than the first cock part. The secondwater tube is configured to be inserted into the second cock part, andwherein, in a state that the second water tube is inserted into thesecond cock part, the second water tube includes a bent portion that islocated higher than the first cock part relative to a water dischargingpoint of the first cock part. The water discharge cock includes: aplurality of flow guide ribs that are coupled to an innercircumferential surface of the first cock part and that extend in adirection of water flow inside the first cock part. The heating unit isan induction heater. The first water tube and the second water tube arehoses. The first water tube and the second water tube are pipes.

In general, one innovative aspect of the subject matter described inthis specification can be implemented in a water purifier that includes:a filter unit that is configured to purify water by passing waterprovided from a water source through a membrane; an induction heaterthat is configured to induction-heat water; a purified water tube thatis coupled to the filter unit and through which water purified by thefilter unit passes; a hot water tube that is divided from the purifiedwater tube at a first portion of the purified water tube and throughwhich water heated by the induction heater passes; and a water dischargecock that includes: a first cock part that is coupled to a first end ofthe purified water tube and that is configured to discharge, in a firststream, water purified by the filter unit, and a second cock part thatis coupled to a first end of the hot water tube and that is configuredto discharge, in a second stream, water heated by the induction heater,wherein the first stream is separated from the second stream.

The foregoing and other implementations can each optionally include oneor more of the following features, alone or in combination. Inparticular, one implementation includes all the following features incombination. The water purifier further includes: a refrigeration devicethat is configured to cool water and that includes a compressor, acondenser, an expander, and an evaporator; and a cold water tube that isdivided from the purified water tube at a second portion of the purifiedwater tube, that merges into the purified water tube at a third portionof the purified water tube, and through which water cooled by therefrigeration devices passes, wherein water cooled by the refrigerationdevice (i) flows from the cold water tube to the purified water tubethrough the third portion of the purified water tube and (ii) dischargesthrough the purified water tube. The water purifier further includes: acheck valve (i) that is located between the first portion of thepurified water tube and the second portion of the purified water tubeand (ii) that is configured to block water leaking from the purifiedwater tube or the cold water tube based on water heated by the inductionheater being discharged by the second cock part. The water purifierfurther includes: a hot water tank assembly that is configured togenerate heat using current induced by the induction heater. The hotwater tank assembly includes: a first plate, and a second plate thatfaces the first plate, and wherein edges of the first plate arerespectively coupled to edges of the second plate such that an innerspace exists between the first plate and the second plate and purifiedwater flows through the inner space.

The subject matter described in this specification can be implemented inparticular examples so as to realize one or more of the followingadvantages. Comparing to a conventional water purifier, a water purifierincludes a purified water tube, a cold water tube, and a hot water tubethat are separated from each other so that purified water and cold waterand hot water may be discharged without any influence from one another.As a result, the water purifier may efficiently control temperature ofcold water and hot water.

In addition, a cold water discharge port and a hot water discharge portare integrated into a single body. Thus, the water purifier can have aslim-sized body.

Furthermore, the water purifier discharges water through a tube asnecessary without storing cold water or purified water in a tank. Thus,the water purifier is free from any sanitary problems caused by residualwater in a water tank.

The details of one or more examples of the subject matter described inthis specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and thedescription below. Other potential features, aspects, and advantages ofthe subject matter will become apparent from the description, thedrawings, and the claim.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrams illustrating an example water purifier.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example induction heating module andan example control module of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example induction heating module ofFIG. 3.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating an example water dischargeunit assembly of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrams illustrating an example water discharge cockof FIG. 5A.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example water discharge cock of FIG.5B.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example water flow inside an exampledirect water type purifier.

Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicatelike elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an example water purifier.

The water purifier includes a main body 100, a water discharge unit 111,and a residual water tray 120.

The main body 100 forms an appearance of a water purifier. To form anappearance of the water purifier, the main body 100 may include a topcover 101, a side cover 102, a front cover 103, a rear cover 104 and abase cover 105.

The top cover 101 may be formed in a plate type and may form an upperpart of the main body 100.

The side cover 102 may be formed in a plate type and may form a leftside surface and a right side surface of the main body 100,respectively. To this end, the side covers 102 may be verticallydisposed to face each other in the left and right side surfaces.

The front cover 103 may form a front surface of the main body 100. Thefront cover 103 may be formed in a semicircular curved surface having apredetermined curvature.

The rear cover 104 may form a rear surface of the main body 100. Therear cover 104 may be formed in a semicircular curved surface having apredetermined curvature.

Here, the front cover 103 and the rear cover 104 may be symmetricallydisposed so as to face each other at a front side and a rear side of themain body 100. The front side surface of the main body 100 is a surfacewhere the water discharging unit 111 is disposed so that a user can takewater from the front side of the water purifier.

The base cover 106 may form a bottom of the main body 100.

To form a closed accommodation space within the main body 100, the frontcover 101, the side cover 102 and the rear cover 104 are disposed atfront, left and right and rear sides of the main body, respectively,along the edge of the main body 100 and coupled with each other edge byedge. Further, the top cover 102 may be coupled to the front cover 103,the side cover 102 and the rear cover 104 edge by edge at the topportions thereof so as to cover the top of the accommodation space.

The main body 100 may be formed to have a narrow width at its left andright sides in a slim configuration. The width of the left and rightsides of the water purifier may be formed to be shorter than that of thefront and rear sides of the water purifier. A distance between the sidecovers 102 may be shorter than that between the front cover 103 and therear cover 104. According to this, it is possible to broadly utilize thespace around a kitchen where the water purifier is furnished.

To implement a water purifier having a slim sized configuration, it ispreferable to provide the number of the water discharge port 111 as one.When the cold water and hot water discharge ports are formed to bespaced apart from each other at left and right, the size of the waterpurifier may be larger than that of the water purifier to secure a spacebetween the cold water and hot water discharging ports.

An operation panel 130 is rotatably disposed at a front side of the topcover 101.

The operation panel 130 may be operated by a user to discharge purifiedwater, cold water and hot water. Further, the operation panel 130 mayinclude a display unit to display functions selected by a user.

The operation panel 130 may include a touch type button that performsvarious functions according to a user's operation.

For instance, the touch type button may include a power button to turnon or off the power, a purified water button to discharge purifiedwater, a cold water button to discharge cold water, a hot water buttonto discharge hot water, a temperature control button to controltemperatures of the cold water or the hot water, and a continuationbutton to continuously discharge water for a predetermined time.

The display unit may display the operation state of the function that isselected by a user simultaneously with pressing a button for desiredfunction by illuminating light from the corresponding button. Further,numerals or colors, for instance, red, yellow, red-yellow, or the like,indicating various temperatures may be displayed according tomanipulation of the temperature control button.

The continuation button may be configured such that when a user desiresto take a large amount of water according to a water vessel, forinstance, for more than one minute to three minutes, water may bedischarged continuously for the predetermined time with one touchwithout pressing a water discharge button for a long time. Further, whenthe continuation button is touched again after taking water as much asdesired by pressing the continuation button, the function forcontinuation button may be released.

The operation panel 130 may be formed to be rotatable in a circularshape, and may be formed to have a rear surface higher than a frontsurface to meet a user's eyes so as to promptly transmit informationabout the water purifier. For instance, an inclination angle of theoperation panel 130 may be determined at a range of 1°-30°.

A water discharge button 131 for discharging purified water, cold waterand hot water may be disposed on one spot of a center of a front surfaceof the operation panel 130, or at several spots so as to be spaced apartfrom one another at a front surface or a rear surface of the operationpanel 130. Other buttons or display units for operating variousfunctions may be disposed on various positions of the operation panel130.

The water discharge port 111 may be forwardly protruded from the frontcover 103 and may be rotatably disposed.

The water discharge port 111 may be disposed at a lower portion of theoperation panel 130. The water discharge port 111 may be disposed at anupper portion of the front cover 103 so as to be rotatable in left andright directions. The water discharge port 111 may be manually operated.

It is in general to dispose the main body 100 near a front side of asink considering a user's accessibility, and in this instance the waterdischarge port 111 may be protruded forwardly from a front portion ofthe sink. When the water discharge port 111 is fixed in position, theuser's movements may be restricted to avoid interference with theprotruded water discharge port 111.

Thus, the water discharge port 111 may be disposed so as to be rotatablein left and right directions in order to avoid interference with user'smovements, rather than fixedly disposing the water discharge port 111.

Further, as it is in general for a user to be situated in front of thewater discharge port 111 to drink water, it is preferable tosimultaneously rotate the water discharge port 111 and the operationpanel 130 to meet user's eyes.

To this end, the operation panel 130 is coupled to the water dischargeport 111 so as to be rotated with the water discharge port 111 when thewater discharge port 111 is rotated.

A coupling protrusion that couples the operation panel 130 to the waterdischarge port 111 may be provided within the front cover 103.

A residual water tray 120 may be configured to collect dropped waterwhen a user tried to drink water using a vessel like a cup and water isdropped down without being introduced into the vessel.

The residual water tray 120 may be rotatably disposed at a front end ofthe base cover 105 so as to collect water that is dropped from the waterdischarge port 111 by rotating the residual water tray 120 in the samedirection as the water discharge port 111. The residual water tray 120may be rotatable in left and right directions independently of the waterdischarge port 111.

The operation panel 130, the water discharge port 111 and the residualwater tray 120 may be consecutively rotated at a range from −90° to theleft to +90° to the right (totally 180°) based on a center line of leftand right directions of the main body 100.

FIG. 2 illustrates the example water purifier of FIG. 1.

The water purifier includes a filter unit 160, a cooling device 170 anda heating device 180.

The filter unit 160 is disposed within a front cover 103. The filterunit 160 may be disposed at a filter bracket assembly 190.

The filter bracket assembly 190 may be vertically disposed at a rearside of the front cover 103 so as to face the front cover 103. Thefilter unit 160 may include a plurality of filters 161 and 162 that maybe detachably mounted at a filter mounting region 193 formed at a frontside of the filter bracket assembly 190.

The filter unit 160 may be configured to purify raw water by filteringraw water through a membrane.

The filter unit 160 may include a plurality of unit filters 161 and 162.For instance, the unit filters 161 and 162 may include a pre-filter 161such as a carbon block, adsorption filters 161 and 162 and the like, anda high performance filter 162 such as a HEPA filter, a UF filter and thelike.

In FIG. 2, there are shown two unit filters 161 and 162. However, thewater purifier can include any suitable number of unit filters.

The plurality of unit filters 161 and 162 may be coupled to each otherin a preset order. For instance, the pre-filter 161 that removes largesized particles from raw water may be disposed at an upstream of thehigh performance filter 162, and an outflow port of the pre-filter 161may be coupled to an inflow port of the high performance filter 162. Theraw water that has passed through the pre-filter 161 may be filtrated bythe HEPA filter or the UF filter. According to this, as water that doesnot have large-sized particles is supplied to the high performancefilter 162 after removing the large-sized particles, the highperformance filter 162 can be protected.

Purified water produced by the filter unit 160 may be supplied to a userthrough the water discharge port 111, or supplied to a user as coldwater or hot water after being cooled or heated by the cooling device170 or the heating device 180.

The water discharge port 111 may be rotatably disposed at an upper endof the bracket assembly 190.

The water discharge port 111 may be supported to be rotatable by acircular shaped rotation part 112.

A guide protrusion having a predetermined curvature may be formed at anupper or lower portion of the rotation part 112, and a guide rail havinga predetermined curvature may be formed at an upper portion of thefilter bracket assembly 190. The guide protrusion and the guide rail maybe coupled so as to be meshed with each other, and may support the waterdischarge port 111 so as to be rotated at a predetermined range ofangle.

The front cover 103 may include a lower cover 103 a coupled to thefilter bracket assembly 190 to cover a front side of the filter unit 160and an upper cover 103 b coupled to the filter bracket assembly 190 tocover a space between the rotation part 112 and the operation panel 130.

The water discharge port 111 may be protruded over the front cover 103through an opening formed between the lower cover 103 a and the uppercover 103 b of the front cover 103. The rotation part 112 may beinserted and disposed within the front cover 103.

Purified water purified by the filter unit 160 may be cooled by thecooling device 170.

The cooling device 170 may be embodied by a refrigeration cycle device.

The refrigeration cycle device may produce cold water by coolingpurified water provided from the filter unit 160.

The refrigeration cycle device may include a compressor 172, a condenser173, an expander and an evaporator. A refrigerant piping may connect thecompressor 172, the condenser 173, the expander and the evaporator, anda phase change of refrigerant may occur through a compression, acondensing, an expansion and an evaporation process while circulatingthe refrigeration cycle device. Especially, cooling water may be cooledby absorbing heat from the cooling water in the process of evaporatingrefrigerant from the evaporator.

Cooling water for the base cover 105 may be distinguished from coldwater to be drunk by a user. The cooling water may be used as liquid tocool cold water.

Cooling water may be stored within the cooling water tank assembly 171provided within the main body 100.

The evaporator may be installed within the cooling water tank assembly171 in the type of coil. The evaporator may be implemented as arefrigeration pipe in the type of coil. The expander may be configuredas a capillary tube to expand refrigerant at a low temperature and a lowpressure. The evaporator may be configured such that refrigerant mayflow therein and cool cold water by absorbing heat from cooling waterthrough a heat exchange between refrigerant and cooling water.

A cooling coil may be disposed within the cooling water tank assembly171 in the type of coil. The cooling coil may be coupled to the filterunit 160 to provide a flow path that cools purified water provided fromthe filter unit 160.

The cooling coil may be installed within the cooling water tank assembly171 so as to be immersed in cooling water. The cooling coil may beformed of a metallic material so as to heat exchange with cooling water.

Purified water purified by the filter unit 160 may be cooled by coolingwater while flowing through the cooling coil disposed within the coolingwater tank assembly 171, thereby producing cold water.

A rotation guide member 191 to rotatably support a residual water tray120 may be installed at a front side of the base cover 105.

The residue water tray 120 may include a protrusion at its rear part. Arotation guide protrusion having a predetermined curvature may be formedat a front part of the base cover 105. The rotation guide member 191 maybe coupled to the rotation guide protrusion in the type of ring so as toenclose the rotation guide protrusion. A mounting part may be formed atone side of the rotation guide, and the mounting part may be formed in arectangular shape corresponding to the protrusion part. As theprotrusion part may be inserted and mounted to the mounting part, theresidual water tray 120 may be rotated with the rotation guide member191 with respect to the base cover 105.

A condenser 173 may be installed at a rear side of the base cover 105.The condenser 173 may condense refrigerant by heat-exchanging airintroduced from the exterior and refrigerant. External air may beintroduced into the water purifier through an intake port formed at abottom surface of the base caver 105. A fan 174 may be installed at afront side of the condenser 173. The fan 174 may be configured to supplyair to the condenser 173. External air may refrigerate refrigerantwithin the condenser 173 by absorbing heat from the condenser 173. Aheat exchange duct may be provided within the main body 100 to enhancethe radiation efficiency, and external air may be introduced anddischarged through the heat exchange duct.

A support 175 that supports the cooling water tank assembly 171 may beprovided at an upper part of the condenser 173. The support 175 mayinclude a drainage hole to replace cooling water within the coolingwater tank assembly 171.

Hot water may be produced by heating purified water purified by thefilter unit 160 by a heating device 180.

The heating device 180 may be disposed between a filter bracket assembly190 and the cooling water tank assembly 171.

A support member 192 may be formed to protrude at a rear side of themain body 100 in an opposite direction of a filter mounting region 193.The support member 192 may support an induction heating module and acontrol module.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example induction heating module and an examplecontrol module of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 illustrates an example inductionheating module of FIG. 3

The induction heating module may include a hot water tank assembly 181and an induction heater 182.

Further, the induction heating module may include an induction heatingprinted circuit board 201, an induction heating printed circuit boardcover 202 and a shield plate 209. The control module may include acontrol printed circuit board 203, a noise printed circuit board 204, aNFC (Near Field Communication) printed circuit board, a buzzer 205, amain printed circuit board 207 and a main printed circuit board cover208.

The hot water tank assembly 181 may include an inner space to heatpurified water provided from the filter unit 160. The hot water tankassembly 181 may be configured to generate heat by being influenced bylines of magnetic force formed by the induction heater 182.

The hot water tank assembly 181 may be configured such that an internalspace is provided, through which purified water may flow, and formed bytwo plates disposed to face and welded with each other so as to keep airtight therein.

An inflow port 181 a may be formed at a lower part of the hot water tankassembly 181. Purified water may be introduced into the hot water tankassembly 181 through the inflow port 181 a.

Purified water may be instantly heated while passing through theinternal space of the hot water tank assembly 181 so as to produce hotwater.

An outflow port 191 b may be formed at an upper part of the hot watertank assembly 181. Hot water heated at the hot water tank assembly 181may be discharged through the outflow port 191 b.

A length and a width as well as a thickness of the hot water tankassembly 181 may be reduced compared to the conventional one so thatminimization of the water purifier can be implemented.

The induction heater 182 may heat the hot water tank assembly 181 by aninduction heating.

The induction heater 182 may use an induced current generated by amagnetic field as a heat source. The induction heater 182 may include aworking coil 183, a ferrite 185, a bracket 186, a temperature fuse 187,and a temperature sensor 188 which may be disposed nearly at a rear sideof the hot water tank assembly 181.

The working coil 183 may be wound up in an oval shape in plural times toform an oval hole therein.

When an AC current is applied to the working coil, an AC magnetic fieldthat changes its direction according to the time may be formed. In thisinstance, an eddy current may be generated at the hot water tankassembly 181 by an electromagnetic induction phenomenon. As a Joule heatis generated at the hot water tank assembly 181 by the eddy current, thehot water tank assembly 181 may be heated.

A spacer 184 (an alias, mica sheet) may be disposed between the hotwater tank assembly 181 and the working coil to uniformly maintain a gaptherebetween.

The spacer 184 may be formed to have a thin thickness in the form ofoval sheet.

The spacer 184 may be formed of an insulator that prevents an electricconduction and has heat-resistance properties.

The spacer 184 may be disposed between the hot water tank assembly 181and the working coil 183 in plural numbers to cutoff conduction of heatgenerated from the hot water tank assembly 181 to the working coil 183.The spacer 184 may be disposed between the working coil 183 and theferrite 185 to cutoff conduction of heat generated from the working coil183 to the ferrite 185. Further, the spacer 184 may insulate conductionof current of the working coil 183 to the ferrite 185.

The ferrite 185 may be radially disposed in plural numbers, andconfigured to cutoff electromagnetic wave generated from the workingcoil 183.

A bracket 186 may be coupled to a rear surface of the hot water tankassembly 181 by a coupling member such as a screw, and configured tosupport and accommodate therein the working coil 183, the spacer 184 andthe ferrite 185.

A fixture member 189 in an oval shape may be mounted at a center of thebracket 186. The fixture member 189 may be formed of a heat-resistancematerial such as silicon. The fixture member 189 may be fixed to a rearsurface of the hot water tank assembly 181 through a through-hole formedat a center of the plural working coils 183 and the spacer 184. Thefixture member 189 may prevent the working coil 183 and the spacer 184from moving to the left and right.

A temperature sensor 222 and a temperature fuse 187 may be mountedwithin the fixture member 189.

The temperature sensor 222 may be mounted to a rear surface of the hotwater tank assembly 181 to sense heat conducted from the hot water tankassembly 181 and measures a temperature of the hot water tank assembly181 as the electric resistance value changes according to the sensedtemperature of heat.

The temperature fuse 187 may be configured to cutoff an electric currentapplied to the working coil 183 by being decoupled when the temperatureof the hot water tank assembly 181 is higher than a preset temperaturevalue.

An induction heating module is configured to be supplied with purifiedwater produced by the filter unit 160. Especially, in case of a directwater type water purifier that does not include a separate water tank,the induction heating module may directly be provided with purifiedwater from the filter unit 160.

An induction heating printed circuit board 201 may control an inductionheating operation of the induction heater 182. For instance, when a userpresses a water discharge button 131 of the operation panel 130 todischarge hot water, purified water produced at the filter unit 160 maybe supplied to the hot water tank assembly 181.

The induction heating printed circuit board 201 may control an electriccurrent to flow through the working coil 183.

The induction heating printed circuit board 201 may control a dischargetemperature of hot water by controlling a frequency of the electriccurrent flowing through the working coil 183.

For instance, when a DC current flows in the working coil 183, thedirection of magnetic is changed as much as frequencies of the DCcurrent. When a Dc current of 60 Hz is applied, the direction ofmagnetic field is changed 60 times for one second, while when a Dccurrent of 400 kHz is applied, the direction of magnetic field ischanged 400,000 times for one second. When the hot water tank assembly181 that is an object to be heated is placed within the magnetic fieldthat changes as above, a voltage is induced to the hot water tankassembly 181 by the Faraday's law, thereby generating an electron flowat the hot water tank assembly 181. The electric current induced at thehot water tank assembly 181 flows in an opposite direction to currentflowing in the working coil 193. Thus, it is possible to control thefrequency of the current that flows in the hot water tank assembly 181by controlling the frequency of the current that is applied to theworking coil 183. The hot water tank assembly 181 may generate heat by acurrent supplied to the working coil 183. Purified water may beconverted into hot water while passing through the hot water tankassembly 181.

The induction heating printed circuit board cover 202 may be configuredto enclose the induction heating printed circuit board 201. Theinduction heating printed circuit board cover 202 may include a firstinduction heating cover 202 a and a second induction heating cover 202b.

The first induction heating cover 202 a and the second induction heatingcover 202 b may be coupled with each other at their edges. The inductionheating printed circuit board 201 may be mounted within an internalspace formed by the first induction heating cover 202 a and the secondinduction heating cover 202 b.

The first induction heating cover 202 a and the second induction heatingcover 202 b may prevent water from being infiltrated. Further, the firstinduction heating cover 202 a and the second induction heating cover 202b may be formed of a flame retardant material to protect the inductionheating printed circuit board 201 from damage by fire.

A shield plate 209 may be disposed at one side of the induction heater182. The shield plate 209 may be disposed at an opposite side of the hotwater tank assembly 181 based on the induction heater 182. The shieldplate 209 may be configured to prevent lines of magnetic force generatedby the working coil 183 from radiating to remaining regions except thehot water tank assembly 181. The shield plate 209 may be formed of analuminum or other material that can change lines of magnetic force.

Hereinafter, the control module will be described.

A control printed circuit board 203 is a sub-structural element of adisplay printed circuit board. The control printed circuit board 203 isnot an essential structural element to drive a water dispenser such as awater purifier, but may function as a sub-structural element for asubsidiary function of the display printed circuit board.

A noise printed circuit board 204 is an element to supply a power to theinduction heating printed circuit board 201. As the output voltage forinduction heating is very high, a sufficient power should be supplied.The noise printed circuit board 204 is not an essential structuralelement to drive a water dispenser such as a water purifier. However,the water dispenser such as a water purifier may have the noise printedcircuit board 204 to prepare for a case that a power needed for aninduction heating is not sufficiently supplied. It is possible tosatisfy an output voltage for induction heating by supplying a separatepower to the induction heating printed circuit board 201. The noiseprinted circuit board 204 may function to supply a subsidiary power toother elements in addition to the induction heating printed circuitboard 201.

A buzzer 205 may be a module that is configured to provide correctmalfunction information to a user by outputting a sound when amalfunction occurs at a water dispenser like a water purifier. Thebuzzer 205 may output a specific sound of preset code according to thekind of malfunctions.

An NFC printed circuit board 206 is an element to transcieve data withcommunication equipments. These days, a personal communication equipmentsuch as a smart phone is popular. Thus, if a consumer can check thestate of the water dispenser or input a control signal using a personalcommunication equipment, it is possible to enhance convenience to aconsumer. The NFC printed circuit board 206 may provide stateinformation of a water dispenser to a personal communication equipmentthat is paired therewith and receive a user's control command from thepersonal communication equipment.

A main printed circuit board 207 may control a general operation of thewater dispenser such as a water purifier. The operations of theoperation panel 130 as shown in FIG. 1, or of the compressor 172 asshown in FIG. 2 may be controlled by the main printed circuit board 207.The main printed circuit board 207 may be supplied with a power from thenoise printed circuit board 204, when the power is insufficient.

A main printed circuit board cover 208 may be formed to enclose the mainprinted circuit board 207. The main printed circuit board cover 208 mayinclude a first main cover 208 a and a second main cover 208 b.

The first main cover 208 a and the second main cover 208 b may becoupled to each other with their edges. The main printed circuit board208 may be installed within an internal space formed by the first andsecond main covers 208 a and 208 b. The first and second main covers 208a and 208 b may prevent infiltration of water. Further, the first andsecond main covers 208 a and 208 b may be formed of a flame retardantmaterial to protect the main printed circuit board 207 from damage byfire.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate an example water discharge unit assembly ofFIG. 2. FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an example water discharge cock of FIG.5A. FIG. 8 illustrates an example water discharge cock of FIG. 5B.

The water discharge unit assembly 110 may include a rotation part 112and a water discharge unit 111 extended from the rotation part 112 inone direction.

The rotation part 112 may be rotatably installed within the main body100 so as to rotate the water discharge unit 111 at a range of apredetermined angle. The water discharge unit 111 may be rotatable bythe rotation part 112 in a state that it is exposed to the outside ofthe main body 100.

The rotation part 112 may be rotatable within a range of a predeterminedangle along a guide rail formed at an upper end of a filter bracketassembly 190 with a certain curvature.

The rotation part 112 may include a plurality of coupling rings 112 afor coupling with the operation panel 130. Coupling protrusions of theoperation panel 130 may be inserted into and coupled to the couplingrings 112 a of the rotation part 112. By such a configuration, when thewater discharge port 111 is rotated, the rotation part 112 coupled tothe water discharge port 111 is rotated and the operation panel 130coupled to the rotation part 112 through the coupling rings 112 a may berotated.

In this instance, one housing may be formed to enclose external surfacesand extended along the water discharge port 111 and an externalcircumference of the rotation part 112 so that the water discharge port111 and the rotation part 112 may be formed integrally into one body.

To supply drinking water to a user, one water discharge cock 140 may beprovided at a front end of the water discharge port 111. The waterdischarge cock 140 may be downwardly protruded from a bottom surface ofthe water discharge port 111.

The water discharge cock 140 may be formed in a cylindrical shaped cockbody 141. The water discharge cock 140 may be disposed at a center linein a lengthwise direction of the water discharge port 111. Though thenumber of the water discharge port 111 is one, two flow paths may beindependently coupled to the water discharge cock 140.

The two flow paths can be respectively implemented as a first tube 146 athrough which purified water flows and a second tube 146 b through whichhot water flows. The first tube 146 a and the second tube 146 b can bemade of any suitable materials. For example, the first tube 146 a andthe second tube 146 b can be hoses that are made of flexible materialssuch as soft plastic or rubber. As another example, the first tube 146 aand the second tube 146 b can be pipes that are made of solid materialssuch as hard plastic or metal. The first hose 146 a forms a coldpurified water discharge flow path.

The first hose 146 a and the second hose 146 b may be provided withinthe water discharge port 111. The first hose 146 a may be coupled to thepurified water flow path 211. The first hose 146 a may be coupled to thepurified water flow path 211 and the cold water flow path 210. A coolingwater tank assembly 171 that is a cooling device 170 may be installed tothe cold water flow path 212. The cold water flow path 212 may bedivided from the purified water flow path 211 and rejoined together. Thefirst hose 146 a may be a flow path where the purified water flow path211 and the cold water flow path 212 are joined together.

Referring to FIG. 5B, a connection part may be provided to incorporatethe purified water flow path 211 and the cold water flow path 212. AT-shaped (3-directions) coupling pipe 150 may be disposed at a joiningportion of the purified water flow path 211 and the cold water flow path212. The cold water flow path 212 may be extended in a vertical downwarddirection at an upper part of the rotation part 112 and coupled to asecond inlet of the T-shaped coupling pipe 150. The cold water flow path212 and the purified water flow path 211 may be joined by being coupledwith the T-shaped coupling pipe 150, and cold water or purified watermay flow through the first hose 146 a that forms a cold and purifiedwater flow path.

The second hose 146 b may be coupled to a hot water flow path 213. Thehot water flow path 213 may be formed by dividing from the purifiedwater flow path 211. A hot water tank assembly 181 and an inductionheater 182 which form a heating device 180 may be disposed at the hotwater flow path 213. Purified water flowing in the hot water flow path213 may be heated by the hot water tank assembly 181 and produced as hotwater. Hot water may flow in the second hose 146 b.

The first hose 146 a and the second hose 146 b may be coupled to onepurified water flow path 211. However, the first hose 146 a and thesecond hose 146 b are separate hoses which may be separated from oneanother.

The second hose 146 b may be coupled to an outflow port 181 b of the hotwater tank assembly 181. The second hose 146 b may be formed to have aradius smaller than that of the first hose 146 a. The quantity of flowof the hot water tank assembly 181 may be smaller than that of the coldwater flow path 212. The tube diameter of the first hose 146 a may be ¼inch. However, the tube diameter of the second hose 146 b may be lessthan 3/16 inch. The reason why the tube diameter of the second hose 146b is reduced is to reduce the amount of water remaining in the hot waterflow path 213 so that influence by residual water remaining within thehot water flow path 213 may be minimized.

The water discharge cock 140 may be formed such that purified water orcold water flowing through the first hose 146 a and cold water flowingthrough the second hose 146 b may be discharged in a separate waterstream.

To this end, the water discharge cock 140 may include a first cock part1411 and a second cock part 1412 within a single cock body 141.

The single cock body 141 may be formed in a cylindrical shape.

The first cock part 1411 and the second cock part 1412 may be formed tohave separate water discharge ports within the single cock body 141. Thefirst cock part 1411 may be provided to discharge purified or coldwater. The second cock part 1412 may be provided to discharge hot water.

The first cock part 1411 may be coupled to communicate with the firsthose 146 a and include a water discharge hole within thereof.

The second cock part 1412 may include an insertion hole 142 c separatelyfrom the water discharge hole of the first cock part 1411.

The first and second cock parts 1411 and 1412 may be provided inparallel in a circular shape, respectively. The first and second cockparts 1411 and 1412 may be circumscribed with each other at theirexternal circumferences. The first and second cock parts 1411 and 1412may inscribed with an internal circumferential surface of the cock body141, respectively. For example, viewing an internal section of the cockbody 141 from an upper part of the cock body 141 from the top of thecock body 141, a relatively large circle (the cock body 141) may bedrawn, and two circles (the first cock part 1411 and the second cockpart 1412) may be circumscribed with each other and inscribed with alarge circle as well.

The first cock part 1411 and the second cock part 1412 may be disposedat a front and a rear side based on a center line in a lengthwisedirection, viewing the water discharge port 111 in FIG. 5A such thatwhen a user places a cup at a center of the lower part of the waterdischarge cock 140, purified water, cold water or hot water may bedischarged in a direct downward direction at a center of the waterdischarge port 111 based on a center line in a lengthwise direction.

When the first and second cock parts 1411 and 1412 are disposed in leftand right directions, a user may need to place a cup one-sided from acenter line in a lengthwise direction of the water discharge port 111 todrink cold water or hot water, but a user may mistakenly place a cupone-sided from a center line in a lengthwise direction of the waterdischarge port 111, but at the right lower side of a center line of thewater discharge cock 140 or in an opposite direction. In this instance,water may not be discharged into a cup, but flow out of a cup. This mayresult in getting a user's hand or fingers scalded by hot water.

To prevent such a scald danger in advance, the first cock part 1411 maybe disposed at a front side and the second cock part 1412 may bedisposed at a rear side of the first cock part 1411, based on a centerline in a lengthwise direction of the water discharge port 111.

Further, the second hose 146 b may be inserted and coupled to the secondcock part 1412 so as to protrude right downwardly about 1 mm to 2 mmfrom a bottom surface of the first cock part 1411. The length ofprotrusion of the second hose 146 b is not limited to the above.

When an end of the second hose 146 b is inserted similarly to the heightof a bottom surface of the first cock part 1411, since the tube diameteris smaller than that of the first cock part 1411, hot water dischargedfrom the second hose 146 b may be spread to other portions than aportion of the hole of the second hose 146 b at a bottom surface of thesecond cock part 1412, causing scald to a user.

A plurality of hollow parts 1413 may be provided between an internalcircumference of the cock body 141 and external surfaces of the firstand second cock parts 1411 and 1412.

Here, the first cock part 1411 and the hollow part 1413, and the secondcock part 1412 and the hollow part 1413 may be separately divided andalternatively disposed in a circumferential direction.

Further, the water discharge cock 140 may include an upper cover 142that covers an upper part of the cock body 141.

The upper cover 142 may be coupled to an upper end of the cock body 141.The cock body 142 may be welded to the cock body 141. The upper cover142 may include a coupling tube 142 a to be coupled to the first hose146 a. The coupling tube 142 a may be formed to be bent at a suitableangle, e.g., 90 degrees, on an upper surface of the upper cover 142 witha rounded corner. The coupling tube 142 a may be coupled to an end ofthe first hose 146 a to connect the first tube 146 a to the waterdischarge hole of the first cock part 1411 so as to communicate witheach other.

The upper cover 142 may include an insertion hole 142 c through whichthe second hose 146 c is inserted. The insertion hole 142 c may beformed to have a diameter corresponding to an external surface of thesecond hose 146 b.

When a user or a worker to repair or maintain the water purifierconnects an external pipe to the water purifier and discharges waterthrough the water discharge cock 140, the pressure within the pipe at alower stream of the water discharge cock 140 may be instantly lowered,while discharging water from the water discharge cock 140. In thisinstance, as the pressure within the pipe is reduced, a backflow to thewater discharge cock 140 within the pipe may occur. In particular, whenconnecting the pipe to the water discharge cock 140 for maintenance andrepairing works, the backflow may occur.

Thus, a packing 145 may be provided within the cock body 141.

The packing 145 may be disposed between an upper surface of the firstcock part 1411 and second cock part 1412 and a lower surface of theupper cover 142 so as to cover the hollow part 1413. A lower surface ofthe packing 145 may contact upper surfaces of the first and second cockparts 1411 and 1412 and an upper surface of the packing 145 may contacta lower surface of the upper cover 142.

The packing 145 may be formed of a silicon material and include aninsertion protrusion 145 c to prevent a backflow of water through thehollow part 1413. The insertion protrusion 145 c may be protruded towardthe hollow part 1413 so as to cover the hollow part 1413, and may beformed to have a shape and a size corresponding to a sectional shape ofthe hollow part 1413.

The packing 145 may include a first through hole 145 a and a secondthrough hole 145 b.

The first through hole 145 a may be formed to connect the waterdischarge hole of the first cock part 1411 to the coupling tube 142 a ofthe upper cover 142 so as to be communicated with each other. The secondthrough hole 145 b may be configured to connect the insertion hole 142 cof the upper cover 142 to the second cock part 1412 such that the secondhose 146 c may be inserted therethrough.

The packing 145 may be pressure-inserted and tight-coupled onto an uppersurface of the first and second cock parts 1411 and 1412 as the uppercover 142 is welded to an upper side of the cock body 141.

Since a connection portion of the coupling tube 142 a coupled to theupper cover 142 and the insertion hole 142 c into which the second hose146 c is inserted are placed on the front and rear sides on a centerline of the water discharge port 111 in a lengthwise direction, thecoupling tube 142 a may be formed to be sided in one direction (left orright) from a center line in a lengthwise direction, viewed from a planeof FIG. 6, to avoid interference with the second hose 146 b. Though thecoupling tube 142 a is formed to be sided, an interference with thesecond hose 146 b may occur.

Thus, a hose guide groove 142 b may be provided at one side surface ofthe coupling tube 142 a. By providing the hose guide grove 142 b in arecessed form at one side surface of the coupling tube 142 a so as tocorrespond to an external surface of the second hose 146 b, it may bepossible for the second tube 146 b to avoid an interference with thecoupling tube 142 a when the second hose 146 b is inserted into theinsertion hole 142 c at an upper portion of the coupling tube 142 a. Thehose guide groove 142 b may have a uniform width in the upper and lowerdirections (gravity direction) and formed to be rounded inwardly fromthe outside.

The water discharge cock 140 may be inserted to protrude rightdownwardly through the through hole formed at a bottom surface of thewater discharge port 111.

The water discharge cock 140 may include a plurality of coupling parts147 that are formed to protrude to both sides of the side surface of theupper end of the cock body 1411. The plurality of coupling parts 147 maybe provided to fix the water discharge cock 140 to an inside of thewater discharge port 111. The coupling parts 147 may be formed in theshape of ring. Each of the coupling parts 147 may include a couplinghole. The coupling part 147 may be provided at two or more locations toprevent the water discharge cock 140 from rotating at its place.

The coupling unit 147 may be coupled to a coupling portion protruded atthe water discharge port 111 by screws through coupling holes, therebypreventing the water discharge cock 140 from moving or rotating at itsplace.

The coupling part 147 may include a hose holder 143 formed to protrudebackwardly at an upper side surface of the cock body 141. The hoseholder 143 may be provided to fix the second hose 146 b. The hose holder143 may be formed to enclose the second hose 146 b.

The hose holder 143 may include a holder base 143 a and a holder rib 143b.

The holder base 143 b may be formed to have a curvature identical to anexternal circumference of the second hose 146 b so as to enclose apartial side surface of the second hose 146 b. A support rib may beformed at a right downward side of the holder base 143 a. The supportrib may be integrally coupled to the cock body 141 such that the holderbase 143 a may be supported to an external surface of the cock body 141.

The holder rib 143 b may be formed to face the holder base 143 a and mayhave a curvature identical to an external circumference of the secondhose 146 b. The holder rib 143 b may include a hose insertion space withthe holder base 143 a there within so as to enclose an externalcircumference of the second hose 146 b. An opening may be providedbetween the holder rib 143 b and the holder base 143 a such that thesecond hose 146 b may be inserted therethrough or detached from the hoseinsertion space.

When coupling the second hose 146 b to the second cock part 1412, thesecond hose 146 b may be inserted and coupled to the second cock part1412 through the insertion hole 142 c and the second through hole 145 bin the gravity direction, and the second hose 146 b may be coupled to anupper portion of the upper cover 142 in the form of bent at a suitableangle, e.g., 90 degrees, (substantially rounded and bent at 90 degrees)(refer to FIG. 7).

The holder rib 143 b and the holder base 143 a may have an elasticity.To insert an external circumference of the second hose 146 b into anopening formed on an upper portion of the holder rib 143 b and theholder base 143 a, the holder rib 143 b and the holder base 143 a shouldbe widened broader than the outer diameter of the second hose 146 b. Andthe holder rib 143 b and the holder base 143 a should be restored intotheir original state so as to enclose the second hose 146 b such thatthe second hose 146 b may be fixed to the hose insertion space.

When coupling the second hose 146 b, the second hose 146 b is insertedand coupled to the second cock part 1412, and then the second hose 146 bis inserted and coupled to the hose insertion space of the hose holder143.

When decoupling the second hose 146 b, at first the second hose 146 bmay be separated from the hose insertion space of the hose holder 143,and then the second hose 146 b may be pulled upwardly from the secondcock part 1412, in the opposite order of the coupling procedure.

The holder rib 143 b may be formed to be shorter than the holder base143 a, and be positioned at a mid-portion of the holder base 143 a inthe lengthwise direction. The reason why the holder rib 143 b is formedto have a shorter length than the holder base 143 a is that when thelength of the holder rib 143 b and the holder base 143 a is same, it maybe difficult to grasp the second hose 146 b with fingers such thatdecoupling of the second hose 146 b may be difficult. However, since theholder rib 143 b is formed to be shorter than the holder base 143 a, itmay be possible to easily grasp the second hose 146 b with the thumb andthe fore finger at a front or rear side of the holder rib 143 b, therebyeasily decoupling the second hose 146 b from the hose holder 143 bypulling upwardly.

The first cock part 1411 may include a plurality of flow guide ribs 1411a extended in the gravity direction at its internal circumference. Theflow direction of purified water or cold water introduced through thecoupling pipe 142 a of the upper cover 142 may be changed from ahorizontal direction to a vertical direction, that is bent at a suitableangle, e.g., 90 degrees, causing an eddy. Such an eddy may causepurified water or cold water not to be smoothly discharged.

The flow guide ribs 1411 a may be provided to protrude in the type ofstraight line at an internal circumference of the first cock part 1411along the gravity direction to guide a smooth flow of purified water orcold water in the water discharge direction. The flow guide ribs 1411 amay be formed to protrude in the radial direction.

The flow guide ribs 1411 a may be formed to protrude in thecircumferential direction with a predetermined gap therebetween. Sincethe eddy is formed spirally, it is preferable to provide the pluralityof flow guide ribs 1411 a to be spaced apart from each other in thecircumferential direction.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example water flow inside an example direct watertype purifier.

The water purifier as shown in FIG. 9 may include a filter unit 160, acooling water tank assembly 170, a hot water tank assembly 181, a waterdischarge cock 140 (including a first cock 1411 and a second cock 1412),valves and piping, sensors, and the like.

The flow path through which water flows may be implemented by a hose ora piping. The flow path may include a raw water supply flow path 210, apurified water flow path 211, a cold water flow path 212, and a hotwater flow path 213.

The raw water supply flow path 210 may be supplied with raw water from araw water supply source like a faucet. The raw water supply flow path210 may include a reducing valve 214 to control the pressure of rawwater to be lower than a preset pressure.

The purified water flow path 211 may be coupled to the filter unit 160so that purified water purified by the filter unit 160 may flow throughthe purified water flow path 211. A water supply valve 215 and a flowsensor 216 may be disposed at the purified water flow path 211. Thewater supply valve 215 may be configured to open or close flow ofpurified water supplied from the filter unit 160 to control the supplyof purified water. A flow control valve may be provided to control theflow of purified water.

The cold water flow path 212 may be divided from a first division point211 a of the purified water flow path 211 and then joined to a junctionof the purified water flow path 211.

The purified water discharge valve 217 may be disposed at a downstreamof the first division point 211 a of the purified water flow path 211.The purified water discharge valve 217 may be configured to control thesupply or cutoff of purified water by opening or closing flow of thepurified water flow path 211 according to a user's selection. Thepurified water discharge valve 217 may be distinguished from the watersupply valve 215. The water supply valve 215 may be used to supplypurified water to the purified water flow path 211, the cold water valve212 and the hot water flow path 213. The purified water discharge valve217 may be used to discharge purified water through the water dischargecock 140.

A cold water discharge valve 218 may be disposed at the cold water flowpath 212. The cold water discharge valve 218 may be disposed at the coldwater flow path 212 that is divided from the first division point 211 aof the cold water flow path 211. The cold water discharge valve 218 maybe configured to control the supply or cutoff of purified water byopening or closing flow of the cold water flow path 212 according to auser's selection.

The hot water flow path 213 may be divided from the second divisionpoint 211 b of the purified water flow path 211. The first divisionpoint 211 a and the second division point 211 b may be disposed to bespaced apart from one another at the purified water flow path 211, andthe second division point 211 b may be disposed at an upstream of thefirst division point 211 a.

The hot water flow path 213 may include a hot water tank assembly 181, aflow control valve 221 and a temperature sensor 222. A hot waterdischarge valve 219 may be disposed at a rear end of the hot water tankassembly 218 to open or close the hot water flow path 213. The hot watertank assembly 218 may generate heat by an induced current induced by aninduction heater 182. The flow control valve 221 may be provided tocontrol a flow rate of purified water supplied to the hot water tankassembly 181. The temperature sensor 222 may be configured to sense atemperature of purified water to be supplied to the hot water tankassembly 181. The hot water tank assembly 181 should be small in sizeand a uniform amount of purified water should be supplied to the hotwater tank assembly 181. Purified water or a smaller amount of purifiedwater than cold water may be supplied to the hot water tank assembly181.

A control module may measure a flow of purified water by receivingsensed signals from the flow sensor 216 disposed at a front end of thepurified water flow path 211, and control the amount of purified watersupplied to the hot water tank assembly 181 by controlling the flowcontrol valve 221. Further, the control module may control thetemperature of hot water by controlling the frequency applied to theinduction heater 182 by receiving sensed signals from the temperaturesensor 222.

The cooling water tank assembly 171 may be coupled to a first drain hose220 a. The first drain hose 220 a may be provided to periodicallyreplace cooling water stored in the cooling water tank assembly 171.

A second drain hose 220 b may be coupled to the hot water tank assembly181. The second drain hose 220 b may be provided to discharge hot waterstored in the hot water tank assembly 181 when maintenance or repair isrequired or in an emergency.

A safety valve 226 may be disposed at a second drain hose 220 b. Whensteam is generated from hot water stored in the hot water tank assembly181, the internal pressure within the hot water tank assembly 181 mayrise more than a preset value. In this instance, when the pressurewithin the hot water tank assembly 181 rises more than a preset value,the safety valve 226 may be opened such that hot water may be dischargedthrough the outflow port 181 b of the hot water tank assembly 181.

A first check valve 223 (the same as the second check valve of claims)may be disposed at a front end of the cold water flow path 212, that is,a front end of the first division point 211 a. The first check valve 223may be configured to prevent residual water of the purified water flowpath 211 and the cold water flow path 212 due to a pressure change ofthe cold water flow path 212 from dropping form the first cock part1411.

The purified water flow path 211, the cold water flow path 212 and thehot water flow path 213 may be coupled to the raw water supply flow path210 of a single line, and the cold water flow path 212 and the hot waterflow path 213 may be coupled to the purified water 211 of a single line.

By such a flow path connection configuration, assuming that the firstcheck valve 223 is not disposed, when discharging hot water, waterremaining in the purified water flow path 211 and the cold water flowpath 212, disposed at a front end of the purified water discharge valve217 and the cold water discharge valve 218, may flow to the hot waterflow path 213, thereby opening the purified water discharge valve 217and the cold water discharge valve 218 when purified water flows to thehot water tank assembly 181 through the hot water flow path 213, sincethe purified water discharge valve 217 and the cold water dischargevalve 218 are operated by a pressure change of the flow path.

Thus, when the purified water discharge valve 217 and the cold waterdischarge valve 218 are opened, residual water at the purified waterflow path 211 and the cold water flow path 212 at the rear end of thepurified water discharge valve 217 and the cold water discharge valve218 may be dropped through the first cock part 1411.

Accordingly, when residual water drops to a cup through the first cockpart 1411 in a case where a user desires to discharge hot water, thetemperature of discharged hot water may be lowered by such residualwater so that it is not possible for a user to drink hot water at adesired temperature.

Thus, the first check valve 211 may be disposed at the purified waterflow path 211 which is disposed at a front end of the purified waterdischarge valve 217 and the cold water discharge valve 218, so that whendischarging hot water there may not be a pressure change at the purifiedwater flow path 211 at the front end of the purified water dischargevalve 217 and the cold water flow path 212 at the front end of the coldwater discharge valve 218. By this, the purified water discharge valve217 and the cold water discharge valve 218 may keep a closed state by apressure change within the flow path, thereby preventing residual waterfrom dropping through the first cock part 1411.

Further, a second check valve 224 (the same as the first check valve ofthe claims) may be disposed at the purified water flow path 211 at thefront end of the first cock part 1411.

The control module may control the purified water discharge valve 217and the cold water discharge valve 218 to open or close when dischargingpurified water, cold water and hot water. When the purified waterdischarge valve 217 and the cold water discharge valve 218 are abruptlyclosed, a pressure change may occur at the purified water flow path 211at the front end of the purified water discharge valve 217 and the coldwater flow path 212 at the front end of the cold water discharge valve218.

This may cause residual water, remaining in the purified water flow path211 at the front end of the purified water discharge valve 217 and thecold water flow path 212 at the front end of the cold water dischargevalve 218, to drop from the first cock part 1411.

Thus, a check fitting part 225 may be disposed at a first hose 146 awhere the purified water flow path 211 and the cold water flow path 212are joined. The check fitting part 225 may include a second check valve224.

The second check valve 224 may be configured to limit water flow in thedischarge direction of purified water and cold water. By this, though apressure change occurs at the purified water flow path 211 at the rearend of the purified water discharge valve 217 and the cold water flowpath 212 at the rear end of the cold water discharge valve 218, residualwater may not be influenced by the pressure change so that residualwater does not drop through the first cock part 1411.

The control module may control valves such as the water supply valve215, the purified water discharge valve 217, the cold water dischargevalve 218 and the hot water discharge valve 219.

The control module may be configured to control the water supply valve215 to close earlier to the purified water discharge valve 217 or thecold water discharge valve 218, or to control the water supply valve 215to open later than the purified water discharge valve 217 or the coldwater discharge valve 218 to reduce a pressure change within the flowpath when discharging water.

What is claimed is:
 1. A water purifier comprising: a main bodyincluding: a filter unit, a cooling unit, and a heating unit; a purifiedwater flow path coupled to the filter unit; a cold water flow path atwhich the cooling unit is disposed; a hot water flow path at which theheating unit is disposed; a coupling pipe that is coupled to thepurified water flow path and the cold water flow path; a first watertube that is coupled to the coupling pipe and through which waterpurified by the filter unit or water cooled by the cooling unit passes;a second water tube that is coupled to the hot water flow path andthrough which water heated by the heating unit passes; a rotation partthat is rotatably installed within the main body; a water discharge unitthat protrudes from the rotation part and that is rotatably supported bythe rotation part; and a water discharge cock that downwardly protrudesfrom the water discharge unit, wherein the water discharge cockincludes: a cock body, a first cock part located inside the cock bodyand coupled to the first water tube, and a second cock part that islocated inside the cock body, that is coupled to the second water tube,and that is separated from the first cock part, wherein the couplingpipe is coupled to the purified water flow path and the cold water flowpath at a first coupling position corresponding to a center axis of therotation part, wherein the second water tube is coupled to the hot waterflow path at a second coupling position located within the waterdischarge unit, and wherein a distance from the second cock part to thesecond coupling position is shorter than a distance from the first cockpart to the first coupling position.
 2. The water purifier of claim 1,wherein the water discharge cock further includes: a hollow part that islocated inside the cock body and that includes an opening, and whereinthe first cock part, the second cock part, and the hollow part areseparated from each other.
 3. The water purifier of claim 2, wherein thefirst cock part includes a first circular shaped body and the secondcock part includes a second circular shaped body, and wherein the firstcircular shaped body and the second circular shaped body are eachcoupled to an internal surface of the cock body.
 4. The water purifierof claim 2, further comprising: a cover that is coupled to a first endof the cock body and that includes: a coupling tube that is coupled tothe first water tube, and an insertion hole into which the second watertube is inserted; and a packing that is located between the first cockpart and the second cock part and that includes: a first through holethat couples the coupling tube to the first cock part, and a secondthrough hole that couples the insertion hole to the second cock part,wherein the first through hole is separated from the second throughhole.
 5. The water purifier of claim 4, wherein the packing furtherincludes: an insertion protrusion that is inserted into the hollow partand that blocks a flow of water from the hollow part.
 6. The waterpurifier of claim 4, wherein the water discharge cock further includes:a hose guide groove that is located on a surface of the coupling tube,that is adjacent to the insertion hole, and that guides the second watertube into the insertion hole.
 7. The water purifier of claim 6, whereinthe water discharge cock further includes: a hose holder that is coupledto a surface of the cock body and that holds the second water tube. 8.The water purifier of claim 7, wherein the hose holder includes: aholder base that includes a first curved surface that supports a firstportion of the second water tube; and a holder rib that is coupled tothe holder base and that includes a second curved surface that enclosesa second portion of the second water tube.
 9. The water purifier ofclaim 2, wherein the water discharge cock includes: a plurality ofcoupling units that protrude from a first surface of a second end of thecock body, each of the plurality of coupling units including a couplinghole through which a fastener passes such that the cock body is coupledto an inner side of the water discharge unit.
 10. The water purifier ofclaim 2, wherein the second cock part is closer to the filter unit thanthe first cock part.
 11. The water purifier of claim 2, wherein thesecond water tube is inserted into the second cock part, and wherein, ina state that the second water tube is inserted into the second cockpart, the second water tube includes a bent portion that is locatedhigher than the first cock part relative to a water discharging point ofthe first cock part.
 12. The water purifier of claim 2, wherein thewater discharge cock includes: a plurality of flow guide ribs that arecoupled to an inner circumferential surface of the first cock part andthat extend in a direction of water flow inside the first cock part. 13.The water purifier of claim 1, wherein the heating unit is an inductionheater.
 14. The water purifier of claim 1, wherein the first water tubeand the second water tube are hoses.
 15. The water purifier of claim 1,wherein the first water tube and the second water tube are pipes.
 16. Awater purifier comprising: a main body including: a filter unit thatincludes a membrane, and an induction heater; a purified water flow paththat is coupled to the filter unit; a hot water flow path that isdivided from the purified water flow path and at which the inductionheater is disposed; a coupling pipe that is coupled to the purifierwater flow path; a purified water tube that is coupled to the purifiedwater flow path and through which water purified by the filter unitpasses; a hot water tube that is coupled to the hot water flow path andthrough which water heated by the induction heater passes; a rotationpart that is rotatably installed within the main body; and a waterdischarge cock that is rotatably supported by the rotation part and thatincludes: a first cock part that is coupled to a first end of thepurified water tube, and a second cock part that is coupled to a firstend of the hot water tube, wherein a second end of the purified watertube located opposite to the first end of the purified water tube iscoupled to the coupling pipe, wherein a second end of the hot water tubelocated opposite to the first end of the hot water tube is coupled tothe hot water flow path, wherein the second end of the purified watertube and the coupling pipe are coupled to each other at a first couplingposition corresponding to a center of the rotation part, wherein thesecond end of the hot water tube and the hot water flow path are coupledto each other at a second coupling position between the water dischargecock and the center of the rotation part, and wherein a distance fromthe first end of the purified water tube to the second end of thepurified water is longer than a distance from the first end of the hotwater tube to the second end of the hot water tube.
 17. The waterpurifier of claim 16, further comprising: a refrigeration device thatcools water and that includes a compressor, a condenser, an expander,and an evaporator; and a cold water tube that is divided from thepurified water tube, that merges into the purified water tube at a thirdportion of the purified water tube, and through which water cooled bythe refrigeration devices passes, wherein water cooled by therefrigeration device (i) flows from the cold water tube to the purifiedwater tube through the third portion of the purified water tube and (ii)discharges through the purified water tube.
 18. The water purifier ofclaim 17, further comprising: a check valve (i) that is located in thepurified water tube at a position between branching points of the hotwater tube and the cold water tube and (ii) that blocks water leakingfrom the purified water tube or the cold water tube based on waterheated by the induction heater being discharged by the second cock part.19. The water purifier of claim 16, further comprising: a hot water tankassembly that generates heat using current induced by the inductionheater.
 20. The water purifier of claim 19, wherein the hot water tankassembly includes: a first plate, and a second plate that faces thefirst plate, and wherein edges of the first plate are respectivelycoupled to edges of the second plate such that an inner space existsbetween the first plate and the second plate and purified water flowsthrough the inner space.